Q&A: Honor of the Sabbath
Honor of the Sabbath
Question
Hello Rabbi, the Euro round of 16 falls on the Sabbath. Is it permitted to turn on the television before the Sabbath and watch? Or is that not honoring the Sabbath? And if not, is it permitted to turn on the radio or television just to get updates? And is there any issue of appearance to others?
Answer
The rule is that when it makes noise publicly, it is forbidden. That is, if the device emits sound and creates the impression that something is being done through Sabbath desecration, it is forbidden to do so. Beyond that, there is also benefiting from the Sabbath desecration of Jews who are broadcasting. But regarding that, I think there is room to be lenient.
Discussion on Answer
Correct. The Shulchan Arukh permits it. If a person does not have his own position, he should follow custom: a Sephardi like the Shulchan Arukh, and an Ashkenazi like the Rema.
So as a Sephardi, can I leave the TV on for the game? And there are all kinds of things that I don’t know how to relate to,
like the Sabbath desecration of Jews who are broadcasting,
“degrading the Sabbath,” which I have no idea whether that’s just patching holes or something serious,
and “appearance to others,” or other rules that I forgot and didn’t mention.
So how do I deal with these issues when someone asks me about my watching?
Thank you very much.
Sunset in Germany is very late at this time of year (around 21:30 or even 22:00), so there is no Sabbath desecration by the broadcasters. (Sabbath desecration by someone located in Israel would happen in any case.) If anything, the problem would be with the Saturday-night game(s).
As for appearance to others, seemingly there isn’t any issue, because for a Sephardi this is permitted and there is no alternative broadcast that is forbidden.
If Sabbath enjoyment is more important than honor of the Sabbath, then seemingly there is also no problem of “degrading the Sabbath.”
I gave my opinion on the halakhic question. In my view, it is not proper to do this (you can hold yourself back, avoid hearing the result, and watch the game on Saturday night). Beyond that, of course, the decision is yours. What you’ll say to people who ask is also something you need to decide.
Rabbi Michi,
what is the reason you say there is room to be lenient regarding the Jews’ Sabbath desecration?
(Sh’, more power to you, do a bit more homework.)
Because in his view, for the average secular person nowadays there are no commandments / transgressions.
But as I, the humble one, mentioned, there is no Sabbath desecration at all in the first game (the second one isn’t interesting anyway…)
I’m interested in watching the second game too. And I have an Ashkenazi acquaintance who wants to watch without sound.
We’re single and don’t really have much to do on the Sabbath (there’s nothing at all to do, Rabbi, bless us with a worthy match 🙂
Thank you very much. I’d be happy for a more detailed explanation of why there is room to be lenient about the game.
I mean that I’d be happy for a detailed explanation of why there is no problem benefiting from Sabbath desecration (I don’t know whether that Jew believes in the Torah or not).
With the commentators that Kan 11 and the Sports Channel sent here, your Ashkenazi friend will enjoy it more than you….
You don’t need a blessing. Look for a woman who thinks the second game is interesting. If you find one, get down on one knee immediately!
There’s no more than one like that. She’s the one meant for you.
Mazal tov.
But “making noise publicly” is a rule of the Ashkenazim / the Rema. Sephardim don’t follow that, as is well known… So what is the law for them?